Lubricating mechanism.



Wi L. MORRIS.

LumcAnNG MEcHANlsM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- I9, |912.

Patented May 22, 1917,

I zz e Y yrmrrnn enanas rarENr ormoni.

WILLIAM L. MORRIS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

LUBRIGATING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. MORRIS, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fort Wayne, county ofAllen, and State of Indiana, have invented a new anduseful Improvementin Lubricating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, theprinciple of the invention being herein explained andthe best mode inwhich I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguishit from other inventions.

The present invention relates to a lubricating system designedto providea means for accurately regulating the amounts of lubricant fed to anumber of bearing'surfaces. The present methods of lubrication areadmittedly wasteful,` for while the vari-V ous feed lines are roughlydesigned to convey-the correct amounts of lubricant, yet the amountcannot be accurately limited by such means, nor are any means ordinarilyprovided fordetermining the existence of a leak. It is the prime objectofthe present invention to provide -sensitive means, capable of aninitial .accurate adjustment, for

limiting the iow to each bearing, and to i line.

further provide for the instant detection of a break or' stoppage at anypoint in the feed tion on the Viow which may be imposed by Vthefiltering means to be hereinafter described. The saving of all surpluslubricant where.

for giving the` user the same security against a break in this portlonof the system as else- The meansv which I use to accurately -limit ithe' iowthrough feed line are preferably ltering means which aredesignedto regu- Vlate with great accuracy the amount-of lubricant which passes.The filters are provided with indicating means such as a gage' forshowing the pressure which exists in the lter chambers, an increase inpressure giving notice of a-stoppage inthe lter.. In each feed line andin the return line I place a sight feed from which the user may learnthe amount iiowing and be advised of any leakage or shortage oflubricant.

The lters are formed of suitable flowresisting or impeding material andserve the Vdouble purpose of purifying the 'lubricant and of regulatingthe amount supplied; By interposing in eachj feed line a suitable amountof filter material, that is, a predetermined area of material, the flowin each Specification of Letters Patent.

By adjustment I refer to the limita-i cleaned of the deposit. To thisend -they'are made removable. To the accomplishment of the foregoing andrelatedends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafterfully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanismr embodying the invention,` such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of the various mechanicalforms in whichthe principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed vdrawing:-

Figure 1` is a somewhat diagrammatic view indicating the relativepositions and connections of the different parts of the lubricatingsystem; Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are central vertical sections showingdetails of construction; f y

In Fig. 1 there are shown a plurality'of filter chambers 1, in whichthere are removably` mounted filtering screens 2 formed of suitable flowresisting material, each such Patented May 22, 191'7. Application ledDecember 19, 1912; Seria1'No.737,63l3.

screen being adapted to permit the passage;

pump mechanism which, as here shown, con-v sists of a piston 6reciprocably mounted in a cylinder 7 and driven by a connecting rod 8`Feed lines or tubes 9 connect the filters ably from a manifold 10 whichhas a single line leading Vfrom a valve chamber 11 attached to the pump.A plurality of bearings l2 are designed to be lubricated, one filterbeing providedfor each of the bearings and being connectedl thereto bymeans of feed lines 35 of suitable size. theigure, each filter chamberis propor- As is indicated in,

,to said pump, said feed lines leading prefertioned` to the sizeof thebearing surface to .be lubricated, andthe lter itself is suitablydesigned to 'permit the, passage therethrough of sufficient lubricantfor the bearing. B eneath each' bearing, there is disposed a cupshapedmember 13 adapted to'receive the surplus lubricant from the bearing' andto convey it through tubes 14 to a drain chaln- 1.10

ber 15, suitably connected to the tubes 14 at the lowest pomt of thelubricating system.

` fore, purely by gravity.

The filters are preferably formed of the same material, the resistanceof which is known. Therefore, the amount of lubricant carried by eachtube can be accurately controlled by the area of filter material placedin the line.

A tube 16 is provided connecting the pump chamber 11 with the drainchamber l5, and a sight feed is interposed in thisA pipe for the purposeof indicating to the user the flow from the drain chamber to the pump.This sight feed (see Fig. 2) consists preferably of a glass cylinder 17provided with a removable top 1S having two separate vertical passagesformed therein, one passage connecting to the tube 16 and the other to atube 19 which leads to an automatic regulating valve 20, such valvebeing connected directly to the pump chamber. The lubricant willordinarily return to the pipe 16 and the sight feed 17, it passing downthe left vertical passage in the cover of the sight feed and thence tothe pipe 16.

Should the pump pressure increase on account Aof dirty filters thelubricant will back up from the pump lines into the valve 20 I which iscontrolled by a ,spring 50 and is adapted to open at a given pressurepermitting the lubricant to pass through the sight feed to the pump. Thesight feed 17 is a double valve showing how much Aoil is re# turning tothe pump from the bearings, and also howl much is returned directthrough the valve 20L The valve 20 may be adjusted, if A desired, by aplunger 51 and a bolt 52. The valve chamber 11 of the pump hasV twocheck valves 21 and 22, the former admitting lubricant to the chamberfrom lthe drain pipe 16 upon upward movement of the piston,

and the latter allowing the entrance of the lubricant into the feedlines.'

In each of the'feed lines 9 there may be attached on the pump side ofthe filter chamber a second sight feed, consisting of a glass cylinder23 provided with a removable top 2l and a detachable bottom 25.Convenient attachment of these sight feeds is secured by adapting thebodies 40 ofthe same to remain in the line so long as the system is-assembled, a plug 41 being provided to closethe top of the bottommember when a sight feed is not used. The construction ofthe bottom andplug is shown in Fig. 4. The removable vbottom 25 ofv the sight feed isthreaded, adapting it to enter a threaded extension in a nozzle 26,,which is a part of the body member already described,.the latter beingattached directly to the filter chamber. The lower shank of the sightfeed screws into the body 40, and a collar 27 threaded onthe` shankholds packing material 29 against the body 40. These packing strips 29interposed between the collar and the extension serve to make this jointperfectly tight. The nozzle 26 is provided with 4a valve seat 3()disposed concentrically around a passage 31 through the nozzle. member32 which is adapted to contact the seat 30 and as the bottom 25 isprovided with a central opening or passage 36 the lubricant that any orall of the lines may be so provided.

The drain chamber 15 is provided Witha removable cap 37, and at somesuitable point in the feed line a gage 38 is provided in order that theuser may see clearly the pres- ,sure which is being maintained in thesystem. A

f The present system can be accurately fitted to supply any number ofbearing surfaces with any required amount of lubricant, the pump beingdesigned to maintain a pressure sufficient to force a given quantity oflubricant at every stroke of the pump through the filter surfaces, andthe various surfaces being so relatively" proportioned thatof such totalamount of lubricant eachl bearing will receive its predetermined part.Wheninstalled, no adjustment can be made yexcept by a substitution ofnew filters, thus preventing any offhand adjustmentby unskilled userswhich is the cause of many difficulties in the usual oiling systems. Thesafety valve 20 prevents, however, any injury to the system througi anincrease of pressure caused by dirty filters, as this'valve The bottom25 terminates in aby-passes the excess lubricant back" to the pump andalso gives notice in the sight feed 17 that such is beingdone.

The. advantages of the present system are a close regulation of the feedto each of the bearings, such regulation being automatlc by means of thefilter members, and means for determining whether the feed is maintainedat a suitable pressure. These means include the sight feeds and thegage, and are supplemented by the automatic regulator valve and` sightfeed o`n the return line. y

lOther modes of applying the principle of my inventlon may be employedinstead of the`one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed. provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or"the equivalentof such stated means be employed. f

therefore particularly point out and distinctly lclaim as mylnventioncl1. In. mechanism of the class described,

filter interposed in each of said conduits and adapted to regulate theflow therethrough.

2. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of circulatingmeans, a plurality of conduits connected thereto, and flow-impedingelements in each of said conduits, said elements being adapted tomaintain their relative resistancecapacities while increasing theirindividual resistance capacin ties.

3. In mechanism lof the class described, the combination of circulatingmeans, a plu rality 'of conduits connected thereto; a powimpeding filterof known resistance interposed in each of said conduits and adapted toregulate the flow therethrough; and pressure-indicating means adapted toindicate the pressure upon said filters.

4. In mechanism of the class described,

` the combination of circulating means, a plu- `rality of conduitsconnected thereto; flowimpedin'g filters of known resistance interposedin said conduits and adapted to regulate the flow in each, said filtersbeing adapted to maintain their relative resistance capacities whileincreasing their individual resistance capacities.

5. In mechanism of the -cla described,

. the combination of pump mechanism; a plurality of tubes connectedthereto and to bearing surfaces to be lubricated; a drain chamberconnected to each of such bearing surfaces and adapted to receive theexcess lubricant; a tube connecting said drain chamber with said pump; asight feed device connected to said tube; and pressureregulating meansconnected to said sight feed device and to said tubes extending fromsaid pump.

6. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a pluralityof conduits each connected to a predetermined amount of bearing surface;bf a plurality of filters connected in said conduits, all of saidfilters being of the same material and resistance power and havingdierent cross-sectional area-s corresponding with predetermined portionsof the total amount of lubricant which it is desired to pass throughtheir respective conduits; and pump mechanism adapted to supplylubricant to said conduits at a pressure sufficient to force the totalpredetermined amount of lubricant through saidy conduits against thecombined normal resistances of said flow-impeding members;

7., In mechanism of the class described, the combination with aplurality of conduits each connected to a predetermined amount ofbearing surface; of a' plurality of filters connected in said conduits,all of said filters being of the same material and resistance power andhaving dierent cross-sectional areas corresponding with i predeterminedconduits against the combined normal re.

sistances of said flow-impeding members; and .means adapted to relievethe pressure in said conduits upon an increase in the resistance of saidflow-impeding members. l

8. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a pluralityof conduits eachA connected to a predetermined amount of bearingsurface; of a plurality of filters connected in said conduits, all ofsaid filters being of the same material and resistance power and havingdifferent cross-sectional areas corresponding with predeterminedportions of the total amount of lubricant which it is desired to passthrough their respective conduits; (andi pump mechanism adapted tosupply lubricant to said conduits at a pressure suiicient to force thetotal predetermined amount .of lubricant through said conduits againstthe combined normal resistances of said flow-impeding filters.

9. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a pluralityof conduits each connected to a predetermined amount of bearing surface;of `a plurality of filters connected in said conduits, all of saidfilters being of the same material and resistance power and havingdifferent cross-sectional areas corresponding with predeterminedportions of the total amount of lubricant which it is desired to passthrough their respective conduits; pump mechanism adapted to supplylubricant to said conduits at' a pressure sufiicient to force the totalpredetermined amount of lubricant through said conduits against thecombined normal resistances of said flow-impeding filters; and meansadapted to relieve the pressure in said conduits upon an increase in theresistance of said iiow-impeding filters.

l0. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with aplurality of conduits each connected t'oa predetermined amount ofbearing surface; of a plurality of filters connected in said conduits,all of said filters being of the same material and rsistance power andhaving different cross-sectional areas corresponding with predeterminedportions of the total amount of lubricant which it is desired to passthrough their relil@ spective conduits; pump mechanism adapted y pumpmechanism adapted to supply lubri.

cant to said conduits at a pressure sufiicient 15 to force the totalpredetermined amount of DLSGLM M ER lubricant through said conduitsagainstythe combined normal resistances of said iowimpeding iilters; aconduitconnecting said first-named' conduits to the intake of said 'pumpmechanism; and a pressure actuated 1,227,481I-W1'Zlam L. Morris, FortI'fVayne, Ind; LBRICATING MEcHANIsM.' Patent- Hereby enterskdisclaim'erto th datedMay 22, 1917. Research Gorporation.

Disclaimer filed May 20, 1931, by the assignee, Auto h e combination ofelements coveredl byclaim 2 of sald patent aforesaid except when saidflow-impeding elements have diverse relative resistance capacities,maintained in such relative diversity as to be proportionate to therequirements of the bearings served thereby. l

[Oficial Gazette Juncl, 1931.]

